Treasure Island (DVD)

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TITLE : Treasure Island

RATING: ****½

CAST: Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea, Finlay Currie, Ralph Truman, Geoffrey Keen, Geoffrey Wilkinson, John Laurie, Francis De Wolff, David Davies, John Gregson, Andrew Blackett, William Devlin, John Gregson.

DIRECTOR: Byron Haskin

SCREENWRITER: Lawrence Edward Watkin

BASED ON NOVEL: ...
...in at least 10 years: TREASURE ISLAND, the moody, glorious adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary tale about a young boy named Jim Hawkins who comes upon a treasure map---while at the same time befriending a pirate named Long John Silver. All the memories from my childhood came flooding back to me, and even though I haven't read the book in years as well, I recall how faithful the movie was, despite the fact it was a Disney product and ... more

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TITLE : Treasure Island

RATING: ****½

CAST: Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea, Finlay Currie, Ralph Truman, Geoffrey Keen, Geoffrey Wilkinson, John Laurie, Francis De Wolff, David Davies, John Gregson, Andrew Blackett, William Devlin, John Gregson.

DIRECTOR: Byron Haskin

SCREENWRITER: Lawrence Edward Watkin

BASED ON NOVEL: "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson

STUDIO: Walt Disney

RUNNING TIME: 96 min

RATED: PG (US) & U (UK); for some bloodless violence.

DVD AVAILABILITY: 5 GBP from Amazon; ASIN #B00004CZAC

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INTRODUCTION: THE DEFINITIVE PIRATE TALE
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If buccaneers and buried gold
And all so old romance told
Exactly in some ancient way
Can please, as me they pleased of old
The wiser gangsters of today
So Be It ---- Robert Louis Stevenson

I recall when I went to see PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN 3: AT WORLD'S END in the cinema and was so depressed and bored at the whole thing; the magic that was present with the first one---most notably Johnny Depp's wonderful Capt. Jack Sparrow---was gone. Several months later, I managed to catch on TV a Disney classic that I haven't seen in at least 10 years: TREASURE ISLAND, the moody, glorious adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary tale about a young boy named Jim Hawkins who comes upon a treasure map---while at the same time befriending a pirate named Long John Silver. All the memories from my childhood came flooding back to me, and even though I haven't read the book in years as well, I recall how faithful the movie was, despite the fact it was a Disney product and that----arrgh!!!---the original ending was actually changed! Thar purist swabs can aardvark all they want, though this still remains me vote for best version of thy book, with sumptuous colour cinematography, a riveting music score, and delicious performances by a peerless British cast, who all bring Stevenson's characters beautifully to life.

As most of you should know, Stevenson's story has been filmed more than once and, as a matter of fact, it has been done in over 50 variations, whether it was in sequels, remakes, and offshoots---such as MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND. The first version came out in 1912, and since then we have had a 1934 version (with Wallace Beery), a 1972 version (with Orson Welles), and a 1990 TV version (with Charlton Heston), among many others. Next to Shakespeare and Dickens, this is one of the most adapted works in literature, a grand adventure tale that may very well be the most famous pirate story ever written. In addition, while the book and film tend to get rather violent at times, this is an ideal choice for the whole family to watch; my only complaint is about the DVD, which has no special features, though it still doesn't taint this exquisite, exciting film.

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THE BLACK SPOT…WELL, SHIVER ME TIMBERS!!!
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The setting is the west coast of England, 1765. A stranger arrives at the Admiral Benbow Inn and asks for a double rum; his server is the 11-year-old Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) a strapping, mature lad who answers the stranger's questions about a buccaneer named Capt. Billy Bones that is being sought all over the coast. After the man leaves, Bones appears in person and warns Jim that the stranger was Black Dog, a bloodthirsty messenger who has been sent to nab the Captain, who is now weak and, unbeknownst to him, is dying. A second stranger arrives, blind man who brings Billy Bones a message with the Black Spot, a symbol of Death. Bones knows exactly what will become of him, though after drinking a whole bottle of rum, he is unable to walk, and thus sends Jim off with a treasure map he had been safeguarding, which has the location of a lost booty of Capt. Flint. By the time Jim returns with Squire Trelawney (Walter Fitzgerald) and Dr. Livesey (Denis O'Dea), Bones is dead; afterward, the three hire a ship and get the treasure themselves.

Before setting sail on the Hispaniola, they decide to stop for breakfast at a tavern where Long John Silver (Robert Newton) is working; they want to inform him that the ship's Capt. Smollett (Basil Sydney) wants him to be the cook on the voyage. Silver is a skilled cook, despite the fact he has only one leg---as well as a talking green parrot named Capt. Flint (!). Jim and Long John befriend each other, though Jim has no idea that Long John is actually a pirate with plans to hijack the ship upon its arrival to Treasure Island---as well as using the innocent Jim as not only bait but also as a hostage! As Long John Silver promises later on: "Them that dies will be the lucky ones!!!"

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"OHHH, FOR TEN TOES!!!"
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If I were going to choose two things that I love about Disney's first live-action film they would be the rich period flavor, as well as the performance by Robert Newton, the latter of which I will get to in a minute. The cinematography was done courtesy of the great Freddie Young, who later won three Academy Awards for the films LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, and RYAN'S DAUGHTER; his work is so good here that it looks like a series of paintings. The costumes by Sheila Graham and production design by Thomas N. Morahan both contribute immensely to capturing mid-18th century England in all its vivid glory. Director Byron Haskin has created a picture that feels and looks of its time, right down to the dirty finger nails and screenwriter Lawrence Edward Watkin's old-style pirate slang spoken by the actors is delightful, even though some of it is rather unintelligible---the film's only real flaw. (However, you can remedy that by simply choosing to watch the film with English subtitles on the DVD.)

Even though many actors have played the pivotal role of Long John Silver over the past century, none have come even close to matching Robert Newton's "har-har" interpretation, who chews the dialogue with wild abandon. While Newton had a career in films spanning 25 years, this is the only role in which he is identified with today, and indeed he would reprise the literary pirate throughout the rest of the 1950s, right until his premature death at age 50 of a heart attack. What's amazing is how well he nails the character's mannerisms from the book including the squinting eye and raw voice delivery; sure, he may be a diabolical pirate with a speech impediment, though you come away from the film refusing to dislike him. Sorry to all you Jack Sparrow fans, though I vote Newton's Long John as the most irresistible pirate in the history of cinema, and after watching the film again, I constantly questioned why he didn't receive an Oscar nomination---arrgh, those Academy swabs…I shall shine up me cannon to blow them to smithereens!

While those devoted to the book may think that Bobby Driscoll's casting as Jim Hawkins is a liability simply because he was American, let me tell you that he was in fact one of the most respected and honored child actors of the time---and it shows here in TREASURE ISLAND. Well blow me down if Driscoll's wide-eyed innocence, naiveté, and energy are all pitch-perfect; come on, what young boy would NOT want to be going on this adventure, even though there is the risk of getting thy throat cut. The fine supporting cast that is present around Driscoll and Newton may all be unknown today, though they all make each and every role memorable, particularly Basil Sydney (as Capt. Smollett), Walter Fitzgerald (as the Squire), Finlay Currie (as Billy Bones) , and Geoffrey Wilkinson (in his only role, as Ben Gunn, the only man living on the island). Arrr, this movie has an ensemble of respectful mateys, I reckon.

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BLIMEY, THERE BE NO BONUS FEATURES ONBOARD ME DVD!
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Yes, unfortunately the DVD edition of TREASURE ISLAND from 2001 has no special features whatsoever, though the picture and sound quality is fabulous, and Muir Matheson's score plays well in digital stereo. In recent years, Disney has gone into the process of releasing many of their popular classics from the vault in 2-disc special editions, such as THE SHAGGY DOG and THE PARENT TRAP, so one might come around sooner or later to give this film a proper treatment; until then, we should remain patient because Stevenson's timeless tale will probably never get a superior version. The Penguin classics edition of the book is available from Amazon for 4 GBP, with the DVD of the 1950 film being only one quid more. Thanks for reading, and hope you all enjoyed this review; I shall now conclude with some final trivia notes. Chris :)

TRIVIA NOTE #1: Bobby Driscoll won a special Oscar for two outstanding juvenile performances in 1949 before being cast as Jim Hawkins; sadly, he died at the tender age of 30 of a drug overdose and his body wasn't even identified until a year after he was buried!

TRIVIA NOTE #2: Robert Newton would go on to star in two sequels (not made by Disney), one of which was LONG JOHN SILVER, in which Newton was reunited with director Byron Haskin; he died after filming 26 episodes of the character's adventures for TV.

TRIVIA NOTE #3: Screenwriter Watkin later wrote DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, and actors Denis O'Dea and Walter Fitzgerald would return, starring along aside a pre-007 Sean Connery. 

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